A free workshop series will help local job-seekers learn the skills they need to get hired.
Goodwill of the Southern Alleghenies, Pennsylvania Highlands Community College and the PA CareerLink teamed up to put on the workshops, which are open to the public.
Anyone can attend: whether they’ve been laid off, are coming back to the workforce after a long time, or are changing careers.
“It’s about educating people to understand what the opportunities are in our region,” said Larry Brugh, the Dean of Career Services and Workforce Education at Penn Highlands Community College.
The hope is to get more locals back to work for local companies.
“Single parents with income issues, to folks who might have disabilities, to folks who might have a criminal record, whatever it might be,” Brugh said.
The workshop series will teach you the basics to get any job, from manufacturing to healthcare.
“We certainly talk about resume writing, resume tips, interview skills,” said Amy Horwath, the vice president of Mission Services for Goodwill of the Southern Alleghenies.
From 2016 to 2018, the unemployment rate has dropped in both Cambria and Somerset Counties. However, the workforce is shrinking too.
“The online job postings, there’s a 130% increase over last year,” said Jeff Dick, the site administrator for the PA CareerLink in Cambria and Somerset Counties. “There’s a lot of employer activity in the Southern Alleghenies region.”
Workshop leaders will work with job-seekers on the skills they need during interviews, but they say getting a new gig takes motivation and confidence.
“Most things aren’t insurmountable, but you need help and we’re here to do that,” Brugh said.
The workshop series is free and open to the public:
- Tuesday, March 27 – 2:00–3:15 PM: Career Coach and Résumé Building
- Thursday, April 12 – 2:00–3:15 PM: Résumé Writing
- Wednesday, April 25 – 2:00–3:15 PM: Job Interview Techniques
A second workshop series will help individuals with criminal histories learn how to rebuild employer relationships or to enter the workplace for the first time:
- Monday, May 7 – 2:00–3:15 PM: Career Coach and Résumé Building
- Friday, May 18 – 2:00–3:15 PM: Résumé Writing
- Thursday, May 24 – 2:00–3:15 PM: Job Interview Techniques
The workshops will take place at the Goodwill Career Center, located at 540-542 Central Avenue, Johnstown, PA 15902.
You can also contact the center by phone: (814) 536-3536